Long-term follow-up of ulcerative colitis patients treated on the basis of their cytomegalovirus antigen status

AIM:To clarify the impact of cytomegalovirus(CMV)activation and antiviral therapy based on CMV antigen status on the long-term clinical course of ulcerative colitis(UC)patients.METHODS:UC patients with flare-up were divided into CMV-positive and-negative groups according to the CMV antigenemia assay.The main treatment strategy provided for the patients in the CMV-positive group comprised a dose reduction of corticosteroids and administration of ganciclovir.RESULTS:The median number of days to initial remission was significantly greater for the patients in the CMV-positive group(21 d vs 16 d,P=0.009).However,the relapse rate after remission and colectomy rate during more than 30 mo of observation did not differ between the two groups.Multivariate analysis revealed that administration of ganciclovir was the only independent factor for avoiding colectomy in patients of the CMV-positive group.CONCLUSION:CMV antigen status did not significantly affect the long-term prognosis in UC patients under treatment with appropriate antiviral therapy.

Disparity in clinical care for patients with inflammatory bowel disease between specialists and non-specialists

Background: Although inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) patients have been increasing and new thera-peutic options for IBD have been developed, there are relatively few clinicians who specialize in IBD. Patients treated by a non-specialist of IBD may not receive appropriate treatment. This study aimed to compare disease and medication status between IBD patients treated by a specialist and those treated by a non-specialist. Methods: Medical charts of ambulating IBD patients in two hospitals were examined. All patients in one hospital were treated by one of the IBD specialists, while in the other hospital, patients were treated by one of the gastroenterologists who was a non-specialist of IBD. Results: The numbers of IBD patients were 255 (hospital with specialists) and 74 (hospital without specialists), respectively. Disease activity of the patients was not well-controlled in the hospital without specialists compared to in the hospi- tal with specialists (ulcerative colitis (UC): p = 0.0006 and Crohn’s disease: p = 0.012, respectively). The proportion of UC patients who received an insufficient dose of mesalazine (Pentasa < 3 g/day or Asacol < 3.6 g/day) was higher in the hospital without specialists (47% vs. 15%, p < 0.0001). In the hospital without specialists, more patients received long-term corticosteroids (UC: 23% vs. 5%, p < 0.0001), while fewer patients received immunomodulators (UC: 8% vs. 46%, p < 0.0001). Conclusions: IBD patients of the hospital without specialists were not well-controlled and were not prescribed appropriately with thera-peutic drugs. Fostering and placement of the specialist of IBD is an urgent problem.